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Wesbild launches scholarship for CABE students in Coquitlam

Students attending CABE (Coquitlam Alternative Basic Education) school in Coquitlam will get help attending post-secondary school thanks to a new scholarship program funded by Wesbild.

The company, which has been developing master-planned communities and shopping centres since 1981, will be working with the Coquitlam Foundation to provide scholarships to graduating and graduated students.

The program called LIFT (Learning Initiative for Tomorrow) at was announced at the school Wednesday.

President and CEO Kevin Layden said Wesbild will be providing $50,000 in seed money to a foundation that will administer scholarships in varying amounts to deserving students who are enrolled or are enrolling in college, university or technological institutes to improve their career and life chances.

Scholarships could be between $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the circumstances, and Layden said they will be geared to students who want to attend a post-secondary institution but wouldn't ordinarily have the means to do so.

"What we're really targeting is students who want to further their education and need help and wouldn't ordinarily go if funding was a problem."

GRADUATES CAN APPLY

Students must also have attended CABE for 75% of their high school terms and the scholarships will be issued three times a year, based on CABE's school-leaving calendar. However, Layden said students who have already graduated from CABE can qualify, as long as they graduated within 18 months of applying.

Application forms will be available at www.wesbildlift.com and a selection committee will assess the applications to choose the recipients.

Layden said Wesbild toured the school and thought it did a good job and wanted to do something to further the work.

"We just like what the school does and how it's working; we just want to help people go further," he said.

CABE has about 200 students and offers flexibility in programming, an outreach program for students who can't attend during traditional hours, as well as a later start and earlier finish than most high schools. CABE also provides a free breakfast program, a subsidized school lunch program and youth workers to support students.

IN 2011, 108 students graduated from CABE, according to School District 43 figures.

For more information about CABE, visit http://www.sd43.bc.ca/secondary/CABE/About/Pages/default.aspx. For more information about LIFT, visit wesbildlift.com.

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